Michael Tassano

Gaming Geezer

Pinochle Tables

There are many locations where I am uncomfortable rolling dice. The sound of those cubes rattling on the table draws both frowns and unwanted attention. I have used electronic “dice” and various other random number generators, but I’ve discovered a solution that works better for me: a Pinochle deck.

Most of the tables (and decisions) I make while gaming are derived from d6 tables. I never found a good way to convert those tables to a standard deck of cards. Until, that is, I remembered the Pinochle deck. A Pinochle deck only has six values: Ace, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King. Handily, there are eight of each, making for a nice deck of 48 cards.

One could also have 36-choices by making a 6x6 table and drawing two cards, one for the row selection and one for the column selection. See the 6x6 matrix below. Need more? Lots of other matrix combinations can easily be build with a minimum of creativity.

If you’re really fanatical about this, do as I have done: buy two Poker decks with different color backs. (I get my cards used at the thrift store for $.50 a deck.) You may now have 48 choices by reading the 24 unique values on the face and doubling the choice depending on the color of the card-back.

I know. That’s crazy. Mostly I use the cards as A–9–10-J-Q-K for 1–6 choices.

Some sample tables

Below are some tables I have made for my own use. The first is very useful for solo play. Also shown are some Mythic tables and some character trait tables.

Feel free to adopt, adapt, or copy as you please!

Yes/No/And/But

The idea for using a table of six answers (originally based upon a d6 roll) comes from
Tiny Solitary Soldiers, a very useful blog.

Use: form a simple yes/no question and draw a card. Read the “Meaning” column. Draw a second card and check the “Twist” column to see if there’s been a twist in the flow of the story (an Ace was drawn). If so, draw two more cards to see how the Twist alters the story by reading the “D1” and the “D2” column.

Card

Meaning

Twist

D1

D2

After

K

Yes, and…

-

PC

Appears

Dramatic

Q

Yes

-

NPC

Alters

Dramatic

J

Yes, but…

-

Org.

Helps

Dramatic

10

No, but…

-

Phys. Event

Hinders

Calm

9

No

-

Emotional Event

Changes

Calm

A

No, and…

Twist!

Item

Ends scene

Meanwhile…

May be modified better or worse by Diamond/Spade if desired. E.g. any King is “Yes, and…” but a KD is really good “and” whereas a KS is just barely better than a plain “Yes”.

Alternatively, one could say that a Diamond makes things one row higher, a Spade one row lower.

Event Focus Table

-

K

Q

J

10

9

A

K

Close Thread

NPC Action

Move toward Thread

Move away Thread

PC Pos

PC Pos

Q

NPC Action

Thread event

NPC Action

Move toward Thread

Move away Thread

NPC Pos

J

PC Neg

NPC Action

PC Pos

NPC Action

Move toward Thread

Move away Thread

10

PC Neg

PC Neg

NPC Action

New NPC

NPC Pos

Move toward Thread

9

NPC Pos

PC Neg

PC Neg

NPC Action

New NPC

NPC Neg

A

Thread event

Ambiguous

Ambiguous

NPC Neg

NPC Neg

New NPC

Tables

2x6

Red

Trait

Black

Trait

K

Alert

K

All thumbs

Q

Brave

Q

Arrogant

J

Fast

J

Bloodthirsty

10

Noble

10

Greedy

9

Brawler

9

Mean

A

Leader

A

Yellow

6x6

-

K

Q

J

10

9

A

K

Charismatic

Cruel

Dim

Free Spirit

Genius

Logical

Q

Shy

Smooth

Stunning

Alert

Brave

Fast

J

Noble

Brawler

Leader

Quickdraw

Arrogant

Bloodthirsty

10

Greedy

Mean

Coward

Fixer

Rage

Vicious

9

Cold

Driven

Wary

Slow

Jumpy

Generous

A

Protected

Ganger

Honorable

Secure

Religious

Technocrat

Mythic Tables

Actions

Draw two cards. First for column, second for row. (Actions are less Develop, Adjourn, Care, and Work Hard; Subject table is without Intrigues, Opulence, Exterior Factors, and Disruption.)